Where do we REALLY list & change WinXP computer names?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Susan Sifton
  • Start date Start date
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Susan Sifton

How do we really and truly find & change a WinXP system's "name"?

For a year, upon reboot, I have been getting the classic Windows XP
error message "Windows System Error - A duplicate name exists on the
network".

The "My Computer" "Properties" "Computer Name" "Full Computer Name" is
definately DIFFERENT between the only two systems on my simple home
network. Besides, I've CHANGED the name of each PC a half-dozen times
using this GUI (by pressing the subsequent "Change" "Computer Name"
button) yet, I STILL get this duplicate name exists Windows System
Error message upon every reboot.

When I type "ipconfig /all" at the Windows command prompt, each of my
two PCs gives a different "Host Name". Same with "nbstat -n".

Obviously the computer "name" I think I'm viewing & changing isn't the
same computer "name" Windows XP SP2 must be looking at.

The sad thing is my home "network" is the classic simple two-computer
home network everyone else has, i.e. dsl comes in to a dsl modem, then
cat5 cable goes to a d-link wireless router which has one ethernet
cabled Dell desktop and one wireless Sony laptop connected using WEP. I
doubt it's my neighbor's computer Windows XP is complaining about as
there are no wireless domains in the vicinity.

I swear both computers on this simple network have DIFFERENT names (as
far as I can tell). I'd be glad to change the "real" name if only I
could figure out what it is.

How do I truly get/change the "real" name in Windows XP?

Susan
 
John said:
"Duplicate Name Exists"
"Error Message When You Start a Windows XP Workstation"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;822659
Click to expand...

Here is the gist of that Microsoft Knowledge Base Duplicate Name
article:
support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;822659

* "Duplicate Name Exists" Error Message
* When You Start a Windows XP Workstation
* Article ID: 822659
*
* When you start a Microsoft Windows XP workstation, you may receive
* the following error message: Duplicate name exists.
*
* Additionally, network basic input/output system (NetBIOS)
* name registration may not complete and the following event ID message

* may be logged in the System event log:
* SYSTEM EVENT LOG --> Event Type: Error
* SYSTEM EVENT LOG --> Event Source: NetBT
* SYSTEM EVENT LOG --> Event Category:None
* SYSTEM EVENT LOG --> Event ID: 4321
* SYSTEM EVENT LOG --> Computer: ComputerName
* SYSTEM EVENT LOG --> Description:
* The name "WorkGroupName :1d" could not be
registered
* on the Interface with IP address
nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn.
* The machine with the IP address
mmm.mmm.mmm.mmm
* did not allow the name to be claimed by this
machine.
*
* CAUSE
* This problem may be caused by a NetBIOS name conflict
* between the workstation and either another workstation
* with the same NetBIOS name, or a workgroup or domain
* with the same NetBIOS name as the workstation.
*
* RESOLUTION
* To resolve this problem, do one of the following:
* --> Change the NetBIOS name of the workstation.
* For additional information, view Microsoft Knowledge Base
#298593.
* HOW TO Use the Netdom.exe Utility to Rename a Windows XP Computer
*
* --> Delete the conflicting NetBIOS name in WINS.
* For additional information, see the
* Windows 2000 Server Windows Internet Naming Service Overview
* at
www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/howitworks/communications/nameadrmgmt/wins.asp
 
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